Sea breezes blow inland during the day because land heats faster than the ocean.

The longer version

Land and water respond to sunlight at different rates. Soil and rock warm quickly because the heat stays near the surface, while water spreads warmth through a deeper layer and takes far longer to change temperature. On a sunny day the land becomes noticeably hotter than the sea beside it.

Air over the land rises, leaving slightly lower pressure, and the cooler, denser air over the water flows inland to replace it. The circulation reverses after dark, when the land cools faster than the sea and a gentle breeze drifts back offshore once again, though it is usually much weaker.

Where this entry sits

Clouds, wind, rain, and storms shape daily life in ways that most people barely notice. This collection explains snow, lightning, rainbows, the turning seasons, temperature, the instruments forecasters rely on, and scraps of old weather lore. The full list sits on the Weather and Climate page, where every entry is listed in order.